[ENG TL] 190403 Kstyle interview

[김호준]

Notice: This translation was completed without any permission or endorsement from the copyright holder. I do not hold the copyright to the original article or the photos used here. As such, a license cannot be specified. This translation will be taken down if the copyright holder wishes so.

Original Japanese interview: http://news.kstyle.com/article.ksn?articleNo=2113803

Dreamcatcher tries out acting scared for the first time in the music video of their second Japanese single! The scariest horror media they’ve seen is the anime…

Dreamcatcher, a K-Pop girl group that has been drawing attention world wide for its novel ‘Nightmare’ concept, heavy rock sounds, and overwhelming performances, released its second Japanese single, “PIRI ~ 笛を吹け(Blow the Flute)~ -Japanese Ver.-“ on March 13th. Kstyle conducted an interview with them as they visited Japan to attend release events for the album. We heard a lot about their attitude towards their Asia tour, which is planned on March and includes Japan, and also about how they’ve been doing recently.

[TL’s note: The names will be abbreviated from here on out. JiU:JU, SuA:SA, Siyeon:SY, Handong:HD, Yooheyon:YH, Dami:DM, Gahyeon:GH]

--How was your first impression of PIRI?
JU: There’s a part of the song that tells you to “Blow the flute (Pirireul Bureora)”. At first, I thought, ‘blow the flute? Really? Out of nowhere?’. But as I listened to the song repeatedly, I came to think that we say ‘blow the flute’ because this is a song that sends out a signal that is uniquely ours, and that this is a special song.

--How was the Japanese version?
DM: Personally, the rap part was really hard. It was so fast that it took a while to get used to. But when I heard the result during the monitoring, it was very satisfactory. I felt that it was worth the hard work.
GH: When I first heard it I was worried if I could perform it well because of the pronunciation differences with the Korean version. But in the end, it became a song with a different charm.


--As expected with Dreamcatcher, the dance for PIRI is very cool. Which part of the choreography do you think is the coolest?
HD: During SuA’s part, we form a V-shape formation and move forward together. I think that part is really cool.
ALL: Yeah, that is a cool part.

--Give us some behind the scenes details about the music video.
DM: There’s a scene where all the members stand in a straight line, and we had to match Yoohyeon’s height. But there’s actually significant height differences between us, so we had to resort to different methods to make our heights match. We would stretch our backs, use stools, and the like. That was memorable.
SY: There was a scene where I sit on a ladder. It wasn’t scary, but it was a pointed ladder, so my butt hurt. (Laugh) Still, I didn’t show the pain and got through the shoot.

--Which member gave the best scared performance?
SY: Everyone did a good job, but SuA went as far as to raise her voice. If you look carefully, you can probably see it in the music video as well. (Laugh)

--Which scene did you find scariest?
YH: The doll scene, I guess?
SA: The director surprised us by turning the doll’s heads. That was scary.

If I could go to a wonderland? ‘To Kyoto…’

--Your 4th mini album, ‘The End of Nightmare’, which contains PIRI, concludes the Nightmare series, which Dreamcatcher has continued on until now. How does the series end?
JU: It should be apparent if you watch the music video, but it concludes with us being unable to escape the nightmare, try as we might. Thus, the story keeps repeating itself. It could be said that though the Nightmare series ended, the Nightmare goes on.

--In the very end, there’s a scene where all the members, wearing white clothing, stand in a line while holding hands. What does this scene imply?
SY: It means that in the end, there was but one.
DM: Every member went through terrors.(Laugh) But in the end, there was but one.

--The B side of “PIRI ~ 笛を吹け~ -Japanese Ver.-“contains Japanese renditions of your popular song GOOD NIGHT and Wonderland.
SA: My tone in the rap part of GOOD NIGHT turned out lower than in the Korean version. It fits the Japanese lyrics well and expresses a fiercer feeling. I was very happy about it.
YH: I felt that “Wonderland” also fit the emotional qualities of the Japanese language quite well.

--The actor Jo Dong-hyuk makes his appearance in the music video of GOOD NIGHT as well as Chase Me. It seems that you filmed together with him as well. Were there any memorable stories from that time?
SA: He was very gentle and was very considerate towards us. It was our first time acting, and he helped us to not feel pressure.
JU: This is the first time we’ve been asked something like that. (Towards the interviewer) Could you be a fan of mr. Donghyuk?

--That’s not exactly what I meant with that question. (Laugh) Let me ask a question about Wonderland. If you could all go to a wonderland, what kind of wonderland would you go to?
JU: I want to go into a black hole. I’m curious about what it’s like on the inside.
SA: I want to visit the quantum realm, like the one that Ant-man from Avengers 4 enters when he keeps shrinking.
YH: I love Peter Pan, so I’d like to visit Neverland.
HD: I like scenes from ‘Alice in Wonderland’ because they are very romantic. I’d like to visit that world.
GH: I haven’t thought about it before. But, I want to live in a world where I can live comfortably. (Laugh)
JU: So, an ordinary home!! (Laugh)
YH: That’s practical. (Laugh)
DM: I want to visit the North and South Poles, before the ice melts.
YH: Ah~ I want to see penguins!!
SY: I want to visit Kyoto. (Laugh) It’s not exactly wonderland, but I want to feel that scenery in person.
 
A new event for the release, ‘like a game character…’

--You held a new kind of event during the release events for “PIRI ~ 笛を吹け~ -Japanese Ver.-“, called ‘Individual comment video event’. (TL’s note: It’s an event where the fans would film the members saying certain lines of their choosing) How was it?
SY: It was embarrassing. Being filmed while saying “Good Night~!(お休みなさい)” with the fans watching, I felt like I’d become a game character.
GH: It was awkward and embarrassing at first. But the fans were so happy about it that I felt glad that we did it. I also tried to say the same line in various ways.

--We heard that there were 4 patterns. Which lines were popular?
SA: For me it was, ‘love you (Daisuki)’, I think.
DM: ‘Good night (お休みなさい)’
SY: For me, it was ‘I can’t wait to see you (早く会いたいです).’
JU: Another popular one was ‘I’m always thankful (いつもありがとぅ).’

--The limited edition B of “PIRI ~ 笛を吹け~ -Japanese Ver.-“contained a DVD of your promotion in Raqua during your Japanese debut last year. What did you find memorable during your Japanese debut events?
JU: We promoted during a cold time of the year. Yet, the Japanese InSomnias didn’t let the cold bother them and still came to see us. I found that to be the most memorable.

--I saw Japanes InSomnias saying things like ‘Dreamcatcher treats their fans well’, and ‘They treasure fans’ on their SNS.
SY: Really? I’m happy to hear that. I have a really bad memory, but I try hard to remember each fan. They are happy to be called by their names, and they are thankful for even the smallest things. We are grateful for that.
DM: We are truly thankful that the fans come to each of our promotions. I’m happy and touched when I see a familiar face, because it means that they haven’t forgotten us. When I see new fans increasing, I recompose myself and tell myself to work harder.

--Dami, you have a lot of female fans. When you're with them, what do you talk about?
DM: You could say that they’re mostly female. They tell me ‘(In Japanese)Dami, you’re so cool!’ They’ll also tell me that they want to be hugged during two-shots, so I give them hugs. That’s how it goes.
HD: Whenever I meet Japanese fans, I feel like I’m being healed. Even in difficult times, they make me forget about my hardships. I am so thankful. Love them!

When I was little, an anime I saw was terrifying…

---So far, keeping with your Nightmare concept, your music videos have been somewhat scary. What was the scariest piece of horror media that you’ve seen?
YH: When I was little, I watched a Japanese film called ‘One Missed Call 2’. Because I was so young, it was so terrifying that I couldn’t forget it.
SA: For me, it was ‘Ju-On: The Grudge.’ I get scared even thinking about it. I get more scared by unrealistic things because I end up imagining them.
JU: The Korean film ‘The Wailing’ was terrifying. A Japanese actor (Kunimura Jun) is in the film as well.
SY: Akumada~ (She’s quoting ‘The Wailing’)
ALL: (Bursts out laughing)
HD: I was scared by the anime, ‘Detective Conan’, when I was little.
GH: Conan? Really?
JU: I can see how it could be scary.
HD: The scariest scene was when Conan is peeping through a hole, and then their eyes meet!! (The Mysterious Mansion of a Band of Thieves Case)
SY: Do you know Pingu? I thought Pingu was scary too. There’s this sea lion that toys with Pingu in Pingu's dreams.
JU: Definitely. I found Sailor Moon scary. The fact that they fight during the night was scary, and the enemy monsters were scary too.
DM: For me, it was ‘The Priests’. People possessed by devils suddenly getting up with a completely different demeanor… Things like that were scary.
GH: I haven’t watched a lot of horror films, but I also thought The Priests was scary.


Japanese fans are ‘kind and warm’

--Your Asia tour which also includes Japan, is about to start. What about the tour are you looking forward to?
JU: We are preparing new songs and new units. I’m excited to see what everyone thinks of them.
SA: It’s our first Asia tour, so I’m excited to communicate with our Asian fans. I’m curious about the language of the different countries.

--Last year, your tours centered around Latin America.
YH: I remember the long flights. 20 hours!!

--How do you prepare for long flights?
GH: Neck pillows and comfortable pants are absolutely necessary.
HD: Also, break times and snacks!
JU: I also download music and movies to watch on the plane.
GH: Another important thing is not sleeping on the night before.
SA: Yeah. We bring tiredness with us on long flights. (Laugh)

--Were you given any free time?
JU: We got one day off. We played in the hotel’s pools and went to a nearby supermarket.

--On 2017, you went on a European tour. How was it?
JU: Being in the streets were like being in a fairytale. The concert hall was also renaissance-styled, so it fit the atmosphere of the street. That was impressive.

--How was the fan’s response?
HD: The European fans and the Latin American fans were both very passionate. They even prepared events for us.
SY: They’re so warm. (Laugh)

--How are the Japanese fans?
JU: They’re very passionate.
SY: They’re kind and warm. (Laugh)
DM: They’re shy, but inside, they are very passionate.
HD: Being with them is touching.

--Let’s change the subject. We’ve heard that Handong sneezes if she eats chocolate. So does anyone have something they end up doing, whenever something happens?

YH: Whenever I hear music, I move my fingers like I’m playing the piano.
GH: Do you have the absolute pitch? (Laugh)
YH: No I don’t. (Laugh) I just end up doing it. It’s strange.
SY: I have one! On buses, you see crosswalks, right? I pretend that a character is on those crosswalks and call out for ‘Doongie’ whenever there’s a crosswalk. I do it without thinking while looking out the window. (Laugh)
ALL: What’s that about? (Laugh)
GH: I have a similar experience. When I look out windows and see trees standing in a line, I sometimes would try timing my blinks to when I'm passing the gaps between the trees.
JU: When I was in elementary school, I’d also try stepping only on the white parts of a crosswalk. I also keep something red with me on important events since elementary school.
GH: Since your hair is red, everyday is important, then. (Laugh)
 

We approach the member’s personalities with 7 questions!

--Now, we’ll begin asking questions to individual members. We’ve heard that unlike her beautiful appearance, JiU likes dad jokes. Please teach Japanese fans some dad jokes.
JU: ‘I bought new Tees (In Korea, we call t-shirts ‘Tee’s.). Which Tees did you buy? Cutee and prettee. Something like that. Please try using this joke!
ALL: …(Bitter laugher)

--SuA is good at calligraphy. How did you learn calligraphy?
SA: My grandmother is great at drawing and is a university professor. So I ended up learning calligraphy from her during middle school. Calligraphy and drawing helps me relieve stress, so I try to draw when I have the time. I’ve given my calligraphy as gifts to fans as well.

--Siyeon is a fan of ONE OK ROCK. Was there a particular event that made you a fan?
SY: Their song popped up on my recommendations list on the music streaming service that I use. I heard one song, thought their voice was great, and ended up searching for other songs from them. They’re great at lives too. I ended up becoming a fan. My favorite song is ‘Nobody’s Home’.

--Handong is great at singing musical numbers. What is your favorite musical number? is there a musical that you'd like to star in?
HD: My favorite musical number is ‘Memory’ from Cats. I want to star in Mamma Mia. Both the songs and the story are great. I want to try portraying Sophy.

--Yoohyeon loves playing video games. What draws you to video games?
YH: I’m not anxious to win in games. I like being able to feel like I’m in the world of the game while playing. So I often play simulation games. I haven’t had the time for games recently, though.

--You and Siyeon both love games. Who’s better at games?
YH: We go to PC rooms together, but we don’t play the same games. The genres we like are different. Siyeon likes to play RPGs, but I prefer games like peg solitaire, avatar games, and simulation games.

--Dami, your prince-like charms became even more pronounced with your short haircut. How did the fans react?
DM: I was worried at first. But the fans told me that it suited me well, making my worries disappear. Now I prefer this short haircut.

--Gahyeon, you were praised for your rap part in PIRI. How did trying rapping feel?
GH: I was worried and nervous at first. But our fans' response was great, and helped me become more confident. Knowing that everyone likes it, I worked on it even harder. Dami also gave me advice.

--Lastly, could you give us a message for the fans?
JU: It’s heartwarming, being able to come to Japan again, and being able to make happy memories with everyone. We’re always thankful. Oh! We hold concerts in Tokyo on May 2nd, and in Kobe on May 4th. Please come to them!!

Interviewer: Yuuko Abe    Photography: Eisuke Asaoka

 

[TL’s Note: Wow, this was a difficult one. It took much longer than I thought, and even now I'm not sure if it all makes sense. I did the best I could, but I’m translating an interview from my third language (Japanese) to my second Language (English). Please let me know if there are parts that are difficult to understand.]

 

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